Eureka weekly sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1887-1902, 1887-12-24

SAN DIEGO, Cal, Dec. IA, 1887.
Ed. SENTINEL: 1t may be that
many OF your readers have the opin-
ion that the writer had Of this place
before he visited it. Although lie is
an cold Californian" yet until very
recently he thought San Diego was
composed of few scattered houses on
pretty nearly the same number OF
barren sand hills, as hot, during the
Summer months, as Tophet; without
attraction-tit only, indeed, for the
habitation of centipedes, tarrantulas,
lizards and scorpions, and that the few
human beings who lived here only did
80 because the force of circumstances
compelled them to do SO, and who
would gladly leave were the means
offered by which they could get away.
Ii any of your readers do entertain
such ideas, hope l may be enabled
to undeceive them, or what would be
better, persuade them to do as the
writer did, undeceive themselves by a
visit.
Last Summer, for the first time, l
made pilgrimage to this favored To-
cality, and so far from finding what l
had been led to expect, found one OF
the most delightful p aces had ever
seen on the Pacific Coast, and my ac-
quaintance was general with nearly
all the principal towns and cities from
Panama to Puget Sound. Instead OF
being what | had been led to think,
an open roadstead, l found a most
magnificent harbor, capable OF bear.
ing on it's broad bosom thousands OF
ships of the heaviest tonnage; instead
of being so hot that lizard would
pant for fresh air, found climate as
delightful, as mild and balmy as the
iar-famed shores of Italy or Southern
France; instead of few scattered
houses on few barren sand hills, l
found city of thousands of inhabit-
ants, teeming with the life and energy
Of new mining camp, and instead
OF the few barren sand hills, one OF
the most beautiful sites for a town
that nature had ever provided for
man, and almost from any part of it
commanding q view OF the mount
aims on the east, north and south, and
on the west the beautiful bay OF San
Diego lying at its foot, while across
the bay, and the peninsula forming it,
the majestic Pacific Ocean sweeping
off to the west, until lost in the dim
horizon. Is it any wonder l was
charmed?
This is one of the Oldest yet one OF
the youngest towns OH the Coast, an
assertion which may seem paradoxi-
cal, yet is true. Old San Diego was
one of the earliest settlements of the
Spanish padres in California, and one
among the first places known to the
early American emigrants. 1t is situ-
ated about four miles north or north
west of what is now the city of San
Diego, and is but sparsely populated,
but is destined to become lively sub
urb of the more populous and wealthy
city proper.
Twenty years ago last May A. E.
Horton, for twenty-six cents an acre,
bought the land where thousands are
now cOngregated IN all the hasle ana
hustle of business life, and laid out
what is called Horizons Addition.
That then became San Diego, and at
tracted what few immigrants there
We're who sought this as a place OF
residence. But for years it had a very
sparse population, and led hum
drum existence, being away out OF the
world, only visited by an occasional
ship and having no communication
with the Fast, unless by long and te.
dlous overland journey, or by way OF
san Francisco on the one hand or the
isthmus on the other, If traveller was
fortunate enough to find ship to take
nm north or south, as the case might
BE-. The streets We're nearly deserted
and but little business doing-even
Two years ago, or but little more,
scarcely three vehicles at one time
We're to be seen on what is now the
principal street of the city. But the
Atchlson, Topeka & Santa Fe railroad,
with their keen outlook for business
facilities, saw the future possibilities OF
The place and resolved to make it their
terminal point for the Pacific Coast.